# NTSB ATL04LA152: Stein Skybolt Skybolt, N8048G, Jasper, GA, July 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2004, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Jasper, GA - Coordinates: 34.452499, -84.461112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4525&lon=-84.4611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59723/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA152 ## Probable cause The pilot's attempt to operate the airplane with known deficiencies in the equipment, and the fuel system contamination that resulted in fuel starvation to the engine. A factor was rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,line - contamination,other than water (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the acting airport manager at Pickens County Airport, N8048G, refueled with about 20 gallons of 100 octane low lead fuel. After several start attempts the airplane taxied from the fuel pits a short distance before the engine quit again. The pilot, requested a pair of pliers and removed the fuel filter and found it to be 90 percent clogged. After cleaning the fuel filter and replacing it, he told the acting airport manager that he was going to return to Dalton Municipal. According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing into a rough field, and hit hard collapsing the landing gear, buckling the firewall and engine mounts. Examination of the airplane found sealing compound in the upper fuel tank. The sealing compound was also found in the fuel line and fuel filter. The pilot stated that he should have investigated and cleaned the fuel system prior to taking off. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2004 at 1745 eastern daylight time, a Masingill Steve, Stein Skybolt Home Built airplane, N8048G, registered to and operated by the Private pilot, collided with the ground following a loss of engine power in Jasper, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight to Dalton, Georgia. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated in Jasper, Georgia on July 10, 2004, at 1730. According to the acting airport manager at Pickens County Airport, N8048G, refueled with about 20 gallons of 100 octane low lead fuel. After several start attempts the airplane taxied from the fuel pits a short distance before the engine quit again. The pilot, requested a pair of pliers and removed the fuel filter and found it to be 90 percent clogged. After cleaning the fuel filter and replacing it, he told the acting airport manager that he was going to return to Dalton Municipal. The acting airport manager advised the pilot to drain the fuel and clean the tank prior to departure but that was not accomplished prior to takeoff. According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing into a rough field, and hit hard collapsing the landing gear, buckling the firewall and engine mounts. Examination of the airplane found sealing compound in the upper fuel tank. The sealing compound was also found in the fuel line and fuel filter. The pilot stated that he should have investigated and cleaned the fuel system prior to taking off. The annual inspection on the airplane was completed in September 2003, 22 flight hours before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8048G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8048G-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 001, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stein Skybolt Skybolt - Registry model: [Masingill Steve STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/masingill-steve-steen-skybolt) (registry code 05615O0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 740 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen Lee Masingill - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2003, 22 hours before - Departed: JZP, Jasper, GA - Destination: DNN, Dalton, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 1, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 750 total, 22 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CHA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040710030579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040710030579A), Jul 10, 2004: Amtr STEENSKYBOLT, Dalton, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N8048G departed Dalton Municipal Airport for an airshow at gainsville, GA. While airborne aircraft engine was running rough so the pilot landed… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.